Oakham suffer loss in the UCL Division One

John Evely

Oakham United suffered their first defeat in the UCL Division One on Saturday when they were beaten 2-1 at home to Olney at Sterling Meadows.

After his team squandered the two best chances of the match Oldaker said: “We have got to be more ruthless, we might only get one or two good chances in a match at this level and we have got to take them.”

Andy Sayers, back from nearly two years out of the game because of injury was guilty of failing to convert the first decent chance of the game a quarter of an hour in. His manager said when he is fully up to speed he would have hit his shot first time, but as he regains some match sharpness he took another touch, to allow the keeper to make a block.

Despite Oakham starting slowly they went in 0-0 at the break before Jack Weeden made the break-through for the Nurseymen in the 52nd minute.

On the hour mark Weeden struck his second of the game, his fifth of the season, to join Thrapston Town’s Jedd Whitemen as the UCL Division One’s leading scorer.

However Oakham go themselves back in the tie just four minutes level when summer signing Ash Civil headed home from close range. The ball was launched in from a long throw by Adam Rothery and flicked on at the near post by Richard Nelson to set-up Civil.

Despite the ‘below par’ performance Oldaker said his side could have performed a smash a grab job and could have finished with at least a point. Lewis Leckie had the chance in injury time, the striker fire the ball goalwards but the Olney stopper was in the right place at the right time and made the block, although he seemed to know little about it at the time.

Oldaker said everyone involved with Oakham United are learning about competing at a higher level having been promoted from the PDFL Premier Division last season.

He said: “Last season we were used to dominating teams, having more possession and being the fittest team but with the step up we have to get used to it not always being like that.”

Olney now have seven points from their opening three games and moved up to second place in the league, where Oakham started at the beginning of the day.

The Tractor Boys are now in fourth place with six points thanks to winning their opening two games of the season.

Oakham face unbeaten Bourne Town in the first local derby match on Wednesday night, kick-off 7.45pm.